Lt. General Saito's Message to Officers and Men Defending Saipan

 WHO/you
             JAPANESE 43RD DIVISION, INFANTRY,
                   MARIANAS ISLANDS FORCES.

                                              6 July, 1944.

  Lt. Gen. Saito's Last Message to Japanese Officers and Men
 Defending Saipan.

    The following message is a translation by the D-2 Section of
 the 4thMarDiv.  The intelligence officer of the Japanese 43rd
 Division, captured 9 July 1944, stated that this message was deliv-
 ered by Saito at approximately 0800 the morning of 6 July, just
 prior to the General's death at 1000 that day.

MESSAGE TO OFFICERS AND MEN DEFENDING SAIPAN

    I am addressing the offices and men of the Imperial Army on
 Saipan:  For more than twenty days since the American Devils attacked
 the officers, men and civilians employes of the Imperial Army and
 Navy on this island have fought well and bravely.  Everywhere they
 have demonstrated the honor and glory of the Imperial Forces.  I
 expected every man would do his duty.

      Heaven has not given us an opportunity.  We have not been
 able to utilize the terrain.  We have fought in unison up to the
 present time, but we no longer have the materials with which to fight
 and our artillery for attacks has been completely destroyed..
 Our comrades have fallen beside one another.  Despite the bitter-
 ness of defeat we pledge "SEVEN LIVES TO REPAY OUR COUNTRY'.
 
      The barbarious attack of the enemy is being continued.  Even
 though the enemy has occupied only a corner of Saipan, we are dying
 without avail under violent shelling and bombing.  Whether we stay
 where we are, "There is only death".  However, in death there is
 life.  We must advance with those that remain to deliver still
 another blow to the American Devils, and leave my bones on Saipan
 as a bulwork of the Pacific.

      As it says in the "Senjinkun, Battle Ethed", I will never
 suffer the disgrace of being taken alive, and I will offer up the
 courage of my soul and calmly voice in living by the internal
 principal.

      Here I pray with you for the eternal life of the Emperor and
 the welfare of the country and I advance to seek out the enemy.
 "FOLLOW ME".

      Seven lives to repay our country was the password designated
 by the bn order (26Jun44) sitting the results in a break thru the
 Nofutan Point.

                                        LtGen. SAITO.

                                    /S/. CO NORTHERN MARIANAS
                                            DEFENSE FORCE
                                          CO DISTRICT FLEET.